patsylabrador Posted August 18, 2016 Share Posted August 18, 2016 I want to recommend the BBC programme about New Zealand, it is beautiful and all sorts of words. Really time well spent and I completely fell in love with the Kakapo. It's on iplayer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 My ED is off to New Zealand in about 6 weeks, she will spend a couple of weeks on North island then another couple of weeks on South Island. She is then off to Australia for another month or so then home for Christmas. She is doing the majority of the trip alone staying in hostel, I am full of admiration for her, but worried for her too. Her dad thinks that she is bonkers and would stop her if he could, but thankfully he can't. My OH is not the most adventurous sort. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Sounds like great fun My brother did 3 months travelling on his own around Asia last year and loved it; my cousin did 2 years in Australia and had a great time. She's been over in the UK with her boyfriend for 2 years and is going back to Aus in a few weeks. Lots of my friends have moved all over the world for travelling and work, mostly all by themselves. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 20, 2016 Share Posted August 20, 2016 Chickencam I travelled all over on my own at various times between the ages of 17 and 24 for times from a few weeks to a year. I'm 5'2" and slight and my dad was always worried about me, and specifically that my backpack would pull me over and I'd be stuck on my back like a beetle But I was fine and had a brilliant time, and your girl will too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Thanks for that, makes me feel better, hubby will just have to spend the next few months in denial Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 21, 2016 Share Posted August 21, 2016 Played Scrabble tonight. Only one rude word from ES meaning poo and beginning with "C". my dad kept trying to put in German words he'd learnt in RAF. In fact I am not sure they were real words. ES then tried his luck with "yo" and "bruv" I honestly the youngsters today. His ex girlfriend was brilliant at scrabble. She despaired of his words like boob or tit great fun thou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullethunter Posted August 22, 2016 Share Posted August 22, 2016 Penny has just found, caught and killed a little frog...and not eaten it! Beastly creature Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted August 27, 2016 Share Posted August 27, 2016 Blip in the egg laying today - four eggs but only 3 hens. Only happened to me once. Then made a quiche and 2 were double yolkers. Wow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted September 7, 2016 Share Posted September 7, 2016 Got a letter from HM Revenue and Customs today, saying that they owe me over £1000! Nice surprise after a hard day at work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted September 8, 2016 Share Posted September 8, 2016 great news. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted September 10, 2016 Share Posted September 10, 2016 Now that the Summer season is over my London season can start. I sound like a debutante. I started today by visiting the Sight and Colour Exhibition at the NHM. I learnt some pretty interesting stuff. I really do find this time of year very exciting with all the stuff to do and things changing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 We were away last week, but knew there had been a major forest fire about 5 miles from us, which devastated 800 hectares (nearly 2000 acres). We have charcoal blown in on one part of the garden and right now you can still smell the fire - the wind must be in the wrong direction. However, we only saw it today for the first time. 95% of the damage is forest, the rest is olive groves and allotments in the valleys. We are remote and in very hilly terrain, but the fire threatened 3 small villages and a hamlet. As far as we can see no houses were lost and we know no firefighters were killed. But it is utter devastation, on roads we use every week. I felt quite sick, and very sad, and right now I can't praise the fire service highly enough. We drove behind convoy of them at midnight on Sunday, they never stop helping. Most are volunteers, OH was interested in joining up earlier this year but he is too old! Apparently 50% of the forest fires inEurope this year have been in Portugal which isn't surprising as we haven't seen rain except one or two light night showers since the end of May. Feeling rather chastened at the moment Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Groovychook Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 So sorry to hear that Daphne. How devastating for everyone concerned It must have been terribly sad and shocking to see such familiar places so changed. Thank goodness no lives were lost. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted September 13, 2016 Share Posted September 13, 2016 Blasted heron has punctured my pond liner despite having netting over it. Got up to find the netting under the water which was half gone & the loss of 3 fish. The cost of a replacement liner will hurt but not half as much as the effort & hassle of doing it.....my backs aching just looking at the task ahead Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bramble Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Sorry to hear that ChooksRCute - if you can find the hole/tear is there any chance you could patch it? That would still be a big job but MUCH easier (I would think) than completely replacing the liner (specially as you won't need to drop the water level much more than it already is)? If the hole isn't too huge butyl tape by itself would do it, if it's a bigger hole a patch of liner held in place with butyl tape should fix it and do a very satisfactory job? Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chooksRCute Posted September 14, 2016 Share Posted September 14, 2016 Morning Bramble Yes I was thinking the same, but we were watching the water level continue to drop yesterday so had to make the decision to move the fish into a paddling pool. Pumped some water out from pond for them & the rest has disappeared overnight...so the decisions made to give it a good old clean out & appraise the damage. Our thoughts are to make the pond deeper, the liner/pond is 20 odd years old so maybe due a rethink! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Is arachnophobia heriditary? YS of 15 came into my room last night and asked me do a check of shower for arachnids. The night before he had found one and sprayed deodorant on it so at least it died smelling nice he couldnt removed the corpse so I had too. Only ask as my mum hated them but they never knew her. I am not keen but had to remove them when I lived alone. I am terrified of snakes - no idea why. So if you see a blond 50 something outside reptile house at zoo - its me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted September 15, 2016 Share Posted September 15, 2016 Ali's Girls....it's something I don't understand. I have four adult kids and all brought up by me and I hate spiders and OH who doesn't give a monkeys. I shall answer methodically in order of age... DD - is made uncomfortable by spiders but will take control of getting rid of one if necessary. ES - pretty much the same MS - complete meltdown YS - doesn't give a monkeys MS and YS are twins which makes their totally opposing reactions quite interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 16, 2016 Share Posted September 16, 2016 Can't explain it Patsy. My mum used to get hysterical. ES is better at coping. Younger son at slightly screaming abdabs stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Just got back from dropping off ED to uni. Again. She went to Bristol last year but that didn't work, so hoping it will now she is in Southampton. All fingers are crossed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Fingers crossed for her (and you!). My YS has just started an MSc at Heriot Watt in Edinburgh but the modules he had chosen from the Student Guide (for this coming year) aren't available now so he was struggling to find anything to pick that wasn't marine, engineering or maths based (none of which are his areas of interest). He's going to withdraw from the Uni. I'm really cross with them, he wouldn't have applied if he'd know those modules weren't an option . He's going to apply to another uni which he'd considered in the first place (he picked Heriot Watt as it's supposed to be one of the "better" universities ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 How frustrating! A waste of not only your time, but theirs what with all the organising of rooms, courses etc. I hope he gets in somewhere else which is offering what it says it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 I was thinking of you today Karin - wish Bree the best (sorry is that the right spelling) hope Southampton works for her, ES leaves Tuesday for last year. Can't believe its the last year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted September 17, 2016 Share Posted September 17, 2016 Aww thanks Ali! Much appreciated Her name is Bria So far, its very noisy, but hopefully just freshers weeks shenanigans and will calm down. Oh, and the shower is rubbish - goes between freezing and boiling I hope your son enjoys his final year Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alis girls Posted September 18, 2016 Share Posted September 18, 2016 freshers week, freshers flu - they ring you and they are all snotty and croaky. Report shower - dont want to burn or get frostbite. Hope its flatter terrain than Bristol. OH and I weekended in Cambridge - sooo flat but lots of cobbles - and far tooo many bikes. My ES visited Cambridge as a choice of uni and couldnt take to it so I think they have to feel good about a place. Good luck Bria - sorry got name wrong. xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
